Making An Impact

Msnbc Sees No Deep Harm In Identifying With A Movie

May 15, 1998|By Gary Dretzka, Tribune Staff Writer.

HOLLYWOOD — Last summer, media critics took CNN to task for allowing its logo and reporters to be used ad nauseum in "Contact." The blurring of fantasy and reality wasn't anything new for moonlighting broadcast journalists -- Larry King and John McLaughlin appear in more pictures than most guild members -- but it concerned observers that Warner Bros. might be forcing personnel of its newly acquired all-news network to appear in the movie.

CNN has since toughened its policy regarding reporters acting in films (not including King, unfortunately), so it came as a bit of surprise to see the heavy use of MSNBC iconography in "Deep Impact."

Not to worry, says network spokeswoman Kassie Canter. "We did not pay for product placement," she said, "and we did not coach Tea Leoni. The filmmakers asked if they could use our logo, and we said yes."

One of the storylines in "Deep Impact" involves an upwardly immobile reporter (Leoni) who gets her big break when she discovers the government is covering up the danger of a comet that is on a collision course with Earth.

"We were concerned, frankly," Canter said. "There were certain lines that we drew, and we obviously wouldn't let our reporters or correspondents appear in the film. But that's pretty much the extent of it."

The movie wasn't shot in an actual MSNBC newsroom, but production designers were sent "air checks" of the sets to study. Network executives also were able to review the script before agreeing to participate in the project.